DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 4-12, 15-16 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Song et al. (10,804,635).
Regarding claims 1 and 20, Song et al., FIG. 2 shows a radio frequency (RF) connector comprising:
a first outer contactor (210) comprising a first radially inner surface and defining an axis;
an outer sleeve (220) coaxial with said first outer contactor and in contact with said first radially inner surface of said first outer contactor, wherein said first outer contactor is axially translatable with respect to said outer sleeve;
an outer spring (230) in contact with said first outer contactor and said outer sleeve and configured to resist axial translation of said first outer contactor with respect to said outer sleeve;
a first inner contactor (140) comprising a first radially outer surface and coaxial with said first outer contactor;
a second inner contactor (120) comprising a second radially outer surface and coaxial with said first outer contactor;
an inner sleeve (110) coaxial with said first outer contactor and in contact with said first radially outer surface of said first inner contactor, wherein said first inner contactor is axially translatable with respect to said inner sleeve;
an inner spring (130) in direct contact with said first inner contactor and said second inner contactor and configured to resist axial translation of said first inner contactor and said second inner contactor with respect to said inner sleeve; and
a dielectric (310) disposed radially between said outer sleeve (220) and said inner sleeve (110),
wherein said RF connector is configured to be removably coupled between a first board (B, FIG. 11) and a second board (P) when axially compressed between the first board and the second board, and
wherein a resistance to the axial compression provided by said outer spring and said inner spring holds said RF connector in place with respect to the first board and the second board.
Regarding claim 4, FIG. 2 shows said first outer contactor (210) comprises an inner flange (213) extending radially inward and configured to limit axial translation of said first outer contactor with respect to said outer sleeve.
Regarding claim 5, FIG. 5 shows said inner sleeve (110) comprises a raised portion, and wherein said first radially outer surface of first inner contactor (140) defines an indented portion (143) configured to receive said raised portion to limit axial translation of said first inner contactor with respect to said inner sleeve.
Regarding claim 6, FIG. 11 shows an external sheath (M) disposed radially outward from said first outer contactor and said outer sleeve.
Regarding claim 7, FIG. 2 shows said first outer contactor comprises an outer flange (pointed at 210) extending radially outward and configured to limit axial translation of said first outer contactor with respect to said external sheath.
Regarding claim 8, FIG. 11 sows said external sheath comprises an end flange (internal threads that corresponding to 214) extending radially inward and configured to limit axial translation of said first outer contactor with respect to said external sheath.
Regarding claim 9, FIG. 2 shows said outer sleeve comprises a ledge (pointed at 220) extending radially outward.
Regarding claim 10, FIG. 2 shows said outer spring is in contact with said ledge of said outer sleeve.
Regarding claim 11, FIG. 2 shows said first outer contactor is substantially tubular in shape.
Regarding claim 12, FIG. 2 shows said first inner contactor is substantially cylindrical in shape.
Regarding claim 15, FIG. 2 shows said outer sleeve forms a single-piece housing for said RF connector.
Regarding claims 16 and 18-19, the feature in the method claims are identical to those in the apparatus claims; therefore, a method of manufacturing a radio frequency connector alone is not a patentable feature.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 13-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Song et al.
Regarding claims 13-14, Song et al. disclose the claimed invention as described above except for at least one of said first outer contactor and said first inner contactor comprises gold-plated brass and said dielectric comprises Teflon. It would have been obvious to modify Song et al. to have at least one of said first outer contactor and said first inner contactor comprises gold-plated brass and said dielectric comprises Teflon, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use at a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416 for better engaging.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 3 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 4-16 and 18-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH TAM T LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2094. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdul Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 01/23/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov